Currently it doesn’t look like much, just an enormous hole in the ground.

But according to Nate Buddress, project manager for the Portland based company Lease, Crutcher and Lewis, it will eventually become home to a new six-story apartment building.

Tom Cody, the project developer and site owner, said:

“We have the good fortune to have an unparalleled location that is immediately adjacent to the library, the student store and the University’s main retail district. It is an important and high-profile piece of property that we view as the best in Eugene and also a prominent gateway to campus. Our approach is to respond accordingly with the highest quality and most modern of student residences.”

Construction began in mid-October, with an anticipated completion date of mid-September, 2014.

The new building, which isn’t strictly being designated as student housing, will contain 45 units, ranging from two to four bedroom apartments.

Regardless of size, however, Buddress confirmed that each bedroom will have its own bathroom — making it perfect for potential roommate situations.

Buddress said that the building and apartments will be very similar in appearance to the Courtside and Skybox apartments on the opposite side of campus.

An underground parking garage can explain the giant hole currently being dug on the land and will be an anticipated 46 parking spaces for residents.

Buddress quoted the cost of the project at $9.5 million, but said a majority of that is a direct result of the developer’s interest to keep the building certified as LEED silver.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is transforming the way we think about how our buildings and communities are designed, constructed, maintained and operated across the globe. Comprehensive and flexible, LEED is a green building tool that addresses the entire building’s life cycle recognizing best-in-class building strategies.

The type of certification a building can have depends on the number of points the project earns. These points are given based on the project type and the LEED credits the developer chooses to pursue.

The type of building materials used, indoor air-quality, water and waste management and energy usage are examples of credit choices that can play a role in how many points a particular project can earn.

Earning silver is no small achievement.

Lillis Hall, which is also certified as LEED silver, is an example of this kind of design.

Despite all its beauty and green-design, construction inevitably brings with it complications for those who must navigate or live around it.

To address these concerns, Julie Brown, senior director of communications for the university said, “The UO is in communication with the project team to learn about the construction schedule for any class disruptions that may occur, as well as safety concerns with visibility and bike, pedestrian and vehicle traffic in the area.”

Chandler Chavez, UO student and psychology major, said the jack-hammering at 7 a.m., was a bit bothersome.

Regarding accessibility, the fence that surrounds the construction area has closed off the sidewalks on the sides of the streets involved, but hasn’t encroached upon the drive-ability of the streets themselves.

As acting project manager, safety is one of Buddress’ main concerns as well.

“We have gone through all the proper channels with the city. We had to turn in a traffic control plan, a site plan, a signage plan (for closing the sidewalks) … understanding that while this is not on-campus, we want to be good neighbors to the university,” Buddress said.

“Safety, of not only our people, but also of the people around the campus — not necessarily just students, but the public as well — is always at the forefront of our concerns.”